Apple may improve iPhone 17 costs with out pointing to tariffs

Abstract

Apple is reportedly contemplating elevating the costs of its iPhone 17 sequence, anticipated to launch this fall.
The corporate is fearful that if it raises costs it might be seen as being associated to tariffs, and an affront to the Trump Administration.
Apple is reportedly planning to pin any potential worth will increase on “new options and design modifications” somewhat than tariffs. Nonetheless, tariffs should play a job.

If you happen to’re contemplating buying an iPhone 17 when it launches later this yr, be ready for it to probably price greater than you count on, and never simply due to tariffs.

In accordance with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Apple is considering elevating the worth of its iPhone 17 fashions, anticipated to launch this fall. The reason being reportedly on account of “new options and design modifications” as an alternative of the Trump Administration’s tariffs on items from China, the place many iPhones are nonetheless manufactured.

Whereas tariffs should play a job within the elevated price of an iPhone, Apple is reportedly involved that any potential worth improve on the iPhone 17 fashions might be seen as being associated to tariffs, and an affront to the Trump Administration. This is the reason Apple may play into the “new options and design modifications” coming this yr as the explanation for the worth modifications — not Trump’s tariff and commerce agenda.

iPhone 16

This yr’s iPhone 16 line blurs the road between the “Professional” and the base-level iPhone by providing a brand new digital camera button and the Motion Button, alongside the A18 chip.

Model: Apple
SoC: A18 (3nm)
Show: 6.1-inch 2556 x 1179 pixel decision Tremendous Retina XDR, 2000 nits, 60Hz
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Ports: USB-C

Associated

4 ways Apple’s transformative ‘product renaissance’ is taking shape

In 2027, vital modifications are anticipated in Apple’s product lineup.

How a lot may the iPhone 17 go up by?

Apple may determine to maintain costs the identical

A blue iPhone 16 against a yellow backdrop.

Pocket-lint / Apple

The WSJ’s report does not present specifics about how a lot the price of the iPhone may improve. Presently, the iPhone 16 begins at $799, the iPhone 16 Professional at $1,000, and the iPhone 16 Professional Max at $1,200. If Apple decides to implement any worth modifications, it might want to tread fastidiously to keep away from irritating shoppers an excessive amount of.

Whereas Apple reportedly desires to justify its worth will increase with new options and designs, tariffs should play a job…

Whereas Apple reportedly desires to justify its worth will increase with new options and designs, tariffs should play a job, however the scenario stays risky. Lately, the US and China agreed to droop most tariffs imposed on one another whereas they bear commerce talks. Which means the Trump Administration’s reciprocal tariff on China, set at 125 p.c, will briefly lower to 10 p.c. There’s nonetheless an extra 20 p.c tariff imposed by the US on China earlier this yr, citing issues over fentanyl getting into the nation from China. That makes the whole US tariff on imported items from China 30 p.c on the time of writing.

When the iPhone 17 sequence launches this fall (presumably in September), who is aware of what the commerce scenario shall be like, because it’s continuously altering, so it is laborious to guage it primarily based on that. Theoretically, if Apple raises the worth of every mannequin by $50, I may see individuals being upset, however not too outraged. Nonetheless, any improve over $100 and within the $200 vary, I may see angering lots of people, and rightfully so.

Apple is simply contemplating the transfer, so it may find yourself deciding to keep up the established order for costs this yr…

By way of what to anticipate from the iPhone 17 sequence, Apple is anticipated to launch a brand new ”

iPhone 17 Air
” mannequin, which is alleged to be an ultra-slim smartphone from the corporate, just like what Samsung is doing with the

Galaxy S25 Edge
. The iPhone 17 Air is rumored to switch the Plus mannequin in Apple’s iPhone lineup, and measure round 5.5mm thick, the thinnest iPhone ever.

The

iPhone 17 Pro
is rumored to be present process a beauty change, that includes a brand new digital camera bar design paying homage to the Google Pixel sequence. The iPhone 17 Professional can be rumored to be getting a digital camera improve, with the flexibility to

shoot in 8K
, and a

RAM upgrade
. Whether or not these modifications, or any yet-to-be-announced shock alterations, shall be sufficient to persuade individuals to pay extra for the iPhone stays to be seen.

Apple is simply contemplating the transfer, so it may find yourself deciding to keep up the established order for costs this yr, maybe saving any worth will increase for its ”

product renaissance
” in 2027.